When
driving south from Cancun on highway 307, the town of Limones is the
last town you will come to before the Cafetal junction at which point
you will turn to go to Majahual and Mayan Beach Garden. It is also a
major bus stop where you can change from the MayaB bus system to the
ADO busses.

The
town means "limes" in Spanish and for good reason. Years ago,
the Mexican government wanted to find ways for people to make a living
in less populated areas of Mexico. Recognizing a market for the export
of limes, they gave parcels of lands to citizens along with grants to
plant orchards of limes (part of the Ejido program). The town still grows lots of limes, but has
added other produce as well, such as juice oranges, pineapples, melons
and papaya. They also have started a growing business of selling nursery
plants and furniture handmade from local woods.

Limones
Ruin by the side of the Road

As
you drive through Limones on 307, you might miss the ruin along the
west side of the road. When driving South it will be on your left. It is
a single pyramid that was restored around year 2000 but is already becoming
overgrown. There is no fee to visit the small ruin.

Services
are limited in Limones. There is no gas station here. The closest gas
station is in Majahual or Filipe Carrillo Puerto. Nevertheless, you
can purchase gasoline in the town, just ask for "gasolina?"
at the bus station or at the grocery store next to the Zocalo (pictured
at right) and they will tell you where to get gas.

Limones is my favorite
place to purchase produce and Tortillas. There is a great tortilla shop
in Limones and the "Topes" or speed bump vendors offer some of the
best produce in the area, especially fruit.

This quaint church
is close to Limones Ruin. I've never see it open on weekdays. You will
note that its style is not dissimilar from the church in Filipe
Carrillo Puerto.

Many
of the inhabitants of Limones live in palapa roofed wooden huts with
no running water. This is a very common way of living in rural areas
of the Yucatan and is very similar to the way that rural Mayans lived
centuries ago. Somehow, they still manage to have a TV!